The Iceland Air Defence System () is a part of the
Icelandic Coast Guard. It was founded in 1987 under the
Radar Agency of the
Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs after an agreement between Iceland and the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
on the takeover by the Icelanders of the operation and maintenance of the radar stations of the
Iceland Defense Force.
Between 2009–2011, it was a part of the
Icelandic Defence Agency (''Varnarmálastofnun Íslands''). It operates four
radar
Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), direction ( azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It is a radiodetermination method used to detect and track ...
complexes, a
software
Software consists of computer programs that instruct the Execution (computing), execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications.
The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital comput ...
and support facility as well as a command and report centre.
, it does not independently possess any offensive capabilities, but is primarily used instead to monitor air traffic and direct allied
interceptors
An interceptor aircraft, or simply interceptor, is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically for the defensive interception role against an attacking enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Aircraft that are cap ...
based out of country.
The four facilities are located at the four
intercardinal points:
* H-1
Miðnesheiði in the
Reykjanes peninsula (south-west)
* H-2
Gunnólfsvíkurfjall in the
Langanes peninsula (nord-east)
* H-3
Stokksnes
Stokksnes () is a headland on the southeastern Icelandic coast, near Hofn and Hornafjördur. Stokksnes is located south of Kastarárfjall mountain, and includes Vestrahorn mountain, which was featured in the Bollywood film ''Dilwale (2015 film), D ...
near
Höfn (south-east)
*
H-4 Bolafjall close to
Bolungarvík in the
Westfjords peninsula (nord-west)
Two older structures, H-2 (Heidharhofn ) and H-4 (
Straumnes), were erected by the US and NATO in the late 1950s but where closed few years later due to high operation costs.
[ ] The new H-2 and H-4 where build almost three decades later.
According to the U.S. Department of State website (Office of Public Diplomacy, Iceland page, updated August 2008), the 2008 budget for the Government of Iceland is the first in the country's history to include funding for defence (
US$
The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
8.2 million); the money is earmarked for support of cooperative defence activities, military exercises in Iceland, and maintenance of defence-related facilities. This funding is in addition to roughly US$12 million in new expenditures for the operation of the Iceland Air Defence System radar sites, which the United States handed over to Iceland on August 15, 2007. At the start of 2010 Iceland Air Defence reported having a force of 25 employees.
See also
*
Military of Iceland
*
Icelandic Coast Guard
*
Icelandic Air Policing
References
External links
Iceland Air Defence System
Defence of Iceland
1987 establishments in Iceland
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